Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I License My Dog or Cat? The most important reasons to license your dog or cat are:

A lost dog or cat with a license tag has a better chance of being returned to its owner.

A current license is proof of rabies vaccination and shows your dog or cat is protected from rabies.

A current license is proof of sterilization which is required in the City of Tulsa.

How Much Does A License Cost? The fee is $5 annually for a dog or cat or $15 for a three-year license.

How Do I License My Dog or Cat? When your dog or cat is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, you should receive an envelope so you can mail the vaccination certificate and appropriate fee to the City of Tulsa within 15 days of vaccination. The license will be mailed to you. You can also take the signed vaccination certificate as proof that your animal is sterilized to the Animal Welfare Shelter or City Permitting and Licensing to purchase a license. If you do not have an envelope, you can return the vaccination certificate and appropriate fee to: City of Tulsa, PO Box 451, Tulsa, OK 74101.

How Often Do I Have To License My Dog or Cat? A license is valid for one year from the month of the most recent rabies vaccination. If your pet gets the three-year rabies vaccination, you can purchase a 3-year license.

What If I'm Given a Licensed Dog or Cat? You will have to purchase a new pet tag.

What Happens If My Dog or Cat Loses Its Tags? If your dog or cat loses its license tags, apply in writing or person for a duplicate license application. There is a $1 fee for duplicate tags.

How Do I Renew The License? The easiest way to renew your pet's license is to use the envelope provided by your veterinarian when you get the annual rabies vaccine. You can also renew the license in person at the Animal Welfare Shelter or at City Permitting and Licensing at City Hall, 175 E. 2nd Street.

Rabies Vaccination It is very important for dogs and cats to have a current rabies vaccination. Pets may come into contact with wild animals who could have rabies. If your dog or cat is bitten by a rabid animal it could be infected with rabies, putting you and your family at risk. A rabies vaccination is also required by law to license your dog or cat.

What Is A Valid Vaccination? For licensing purposes, the rabies vaccination must be given by a licensed veterinarian. A vaccination certificate signed by the veterinarian must be supplied as proof of vaccination.

What Vaccinations Are Not Valid? Vaccinations given by an owner, animal breeder, pet store, as well as out-of-country, are not valid for licensing purposes.

How Long Are Vaccinations Good? Depending on the vaccine given, the rabies vaccination is good for one year or three years. It is always best to consult with your veterinarian concerning vaccinations, treatment and health questions regarding your pet.

Adopting

Where Do Adoption Animals Come From? The animals were impounded and not claimed by an owner, or given to Animal Welfare by their owner.

Will My Adopted Animal Be Healthy? While we make every effort to keep our animals healthy, we cannot guarantee the health of any adopted animal. Unhealthy animals will be exchanged within 14 days of adoption.

How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Pet? Dogs and cats of all ages cost $75.

What Does The Adoption Fee Include?

All adopted animals are spayed or neutered.

All adopted animals are given age appropriate vaccinations.

All dogs and cats over 4 months of age are licensed.

All dogs are tested for heartworm.

All dogs and cats are dewormed.

Should I Take My Newly Adopted Pet To A Veterinarian? To be sure your pet is healthy, we strongly recommend that you take it to a veterinarian within two weeks of adoption. Not all animal diseases have symptoms right away but a veterinarian will be able to identify any health-related problems. The vaccinations included with the adoption are not good for a lifetime and do not cover all diseases your pet may have been exposed to prior to adoption.

Where Can I Adopt An Animal From Animal Welfare? Animals are available for adoption at the Animal Shelter at 3031 N. Erie Ave. and occasionally at off-site adoption events.

Spaying/Neutering

Spaying/neutering is the surgical removal of organs essential to animal reproduction.

Why Should My Pet Be Spayed/Neutered? The most important reason to spay or neuter your pet is because more than 7,000 unwanted dogs and cats in our shelter are put to death each year. City Ordinance requires all dogs and cats over the age of six months to be spayed or neutered. Certain exemptions are allowed by permit. By law, every dog and cat adopted from our shelter has to be spayed or neutered.

How Much Does It Cost To Spay or Neuter My New Pet? The cost of spaying or neutering is included in the adoption fee.

Leash Laws

What If Leash Laws Are Broken? A dog/cat-at-large may be picked up by an Animal Welfare Officer and impounded at our facility or returned to the owner if the dog/cat has a current license tag or other identification. The owner may also be issued a dog/cat-at-large citation and be fined. Citations may require a court appearance.

Who Enforces Leash Laws? Animal Welfare or police officers enforce local leash laws in the City of Tulsa.

Stray Animals

What Happens To Stray Dogs/Cats? Animal Welfare accepts stray and owned dogs/cats brought to our facility. We dispatch an officer to pick up dogs/cats when they bite someone or are straying on private or public property.

How Long Are Stray Animals Impounded? Stray animals are held for three days, not including holidays or days the shelter is closed. Animal Welfare makes every attempt to contact the owner of those animals with licenses or identification.

How do I find out if my pet was impounded? If your dog or cat is wearing a pet tag, we will contact you and let you know it was impounded. If your dog or cat is not licensed, the best way to find out if your animal has been impounded is to visit our facility. Try to search the facility daily because animals are impounded every day. Impound, boarding, and license and vaccination costs, if applicable, will be charge to reclaim your animal.

What are the animal redemption fees?

Impoundment Fee: $20 for cats, dogs, & other small animals. $75 for Horses, Cows, and other lives.

Daily Fees: $10 for each day or part of a day, which begins at 12:01 a.m.

Rabies Vaccination Fee: $10 Rabies Vaccination if not current by licensed veterinarian.

City License Fee: $5 if animal is spayed/neutered.

Sterilization Deposit (if animal is not spayed/neutered): $150 (refunded if proof of sterilization is provided within 60 days)

How much do the tickets cost?

Dog/Cat at large Citation: $75

Un-spayed/Un-neutered Citation: $75

Unvaccinated Animal Citation: $75

Unlicensed Animal Citation: $75

Allowing a horse, mule, cow, goat, or pig to run at large (Booked to Court):

Animal-Inflicted Injuries

More than several hundred animal-inflicted injuries are reported to Animal Welfare every year. Most of these injuries are caused by dog and cat bites.

How Do I Report An Animal-Inflicted Injury? Animal-inflicted injuries should be reported immediately. If the injury occurs in the City of Tulsa, call Animal Welfare. If the injury occurs outside the city limits of Tulsa, report the injury to the local authority. If possible, confine the animal first and then call the appropriate number. Tell the person answering the phone where the animal is. Try to describe the breed, size, color or any distinct markings on the animal, where it may live, and if it's wearing a collar or tags. An Animal Welfare Officer will be dispatched to your location to complete an animal bite report.

Are Animal-Inflicted Injuries Dangerous? Yes. Animal-inflicted injuries, including scratches and bites, pose a rabies threat. If you are injured, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, report the incident, and call your physician for treatment advice.

What Happens To An Animal That Causes Injuries? The animal is impounded and observed for ten days to determine if it has rabies. It will be impounded at our facility or it may be impounded at an approved veterinary hospital at the owner's expense. If the animal is deceased, it will be sent to the lab for rabies virus testing.